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Equipment RequirementsMultiple sets of clothing that you don't mind getting wet and one that you don't mind getting very dirty. Must have one pair of long pants. Bathing suit(s) and beach towel(s). Old sneakers that can get wet and muddy. Sunscreen, insect repellent and rain gear, and water bottles.

Itinerary for Jun 30 — Jul 5, 2013

Description: The Marine Science Consortium (MSC) is a residential environmental learning center and field station which provides hands-on educational programs on coastal and marine environments.
Road Scholar participants will be housed in one of the MSC’s residence halls. The residence hall is two stories tall and has no elevator. This facility is set up like a college-style dorm or camp retreat center where bedrooms are grouped into sets of four bedrooms, accessed through one exterior locking door. Inside participants will find four comfortable bedrooms and two bathrooms. Bedrooms have single twin beds, no bunk beds. There are two bathrooms per set of four rooms. Each bathroom has two sinks, two showers with changing areas, and two toilets. Bathrooms are not connected to bedrooms but are shared by only two rooms. (There will never be more than 4 people sharing one bathroom. Usually there are only two). All rooms are comfortable with central heat, and air conditioning. Each room has 2-4 beds, one night stand, a lamp and clothing storage. These accommodations give participants the private space they need, in private single bedrooms or shared with desired roommate, as well as great opportunities for socializing with others.
Meals are served in a common dining room shared by all MSC guests. A hot meal option is provided along with cereal, fruit, and yogurt available at breakfast and a salad bar available at lunch and dinner. Some meals are also taken at area restaurants that feature a variety of local seafood specialties.
While our address says that MSC is located on Wallops Island, participants will find that our campus is not actually on an island. We share a historic postal code with the nearby NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Navy base because of our common history and partnership. We are just a 5-minute drive away from three of Virginia's beautiful barrier islands- Wallops, Chincoteague, and Assateague.

Facility amenities: The residence hall is located across campus from meeting spaces and cafeteria, with parking available nearby. A coin-operated laundry room is available. The campus has a large lounge for participants with comfortable chairs and sofas, tables to play games, and television. Wireless Internet access is available in the main Education Center.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Bathroom: There are two bathrooms per set of four rooms. Each bathroom has two sinks, two showers, and two toilets. Bathrooms are not connected to bedrooms. (There will never be more than 4 people sharing one bathroom. Usually there are only two).

Additional nights before: $35Please call the MSC to make a reservation.

Check in time: 3:00 PM

Day One: Sunday, June 30 - Check In and Campus Orientation/Welcome/Schedule ...

Afternoon: Check in is from 3:00-5:00 PM at the MSC Education Center. Welcome to the program, group introductions and orientation.

Dinner: Dinner will be served in the MSC cafeteria. Our dining staff will prepare and serve your meal cafeteria style, with options ranging from a hot meal to a diverse salad bar.

Evening: Meet your group leaders and fellow participants and talk about what to expect from your week at MSC.

Description: The Marine Science Consortium (MSC) is a residential environmental learning center and field station which provides hands-on educational programs on coastal and marine environments.
Road Scholar participants will be housed in one of the MSC’s residence halls. The residence hall is two stories tall and has no elevator. This facility is set up like a college-style dorm or camp retreat center where bedrooms are grouped into sets of four bedrooms, accessed through one exterior locking door. Inside participants will find four comfortable bedrooms and two bathrooms. Bedrooms have single twin beds, no bunk beds. There are two bathrooms per set of four rooms. Each bathroom has two sinks, two showers with changing areas, and two toilets. Bathrooms are not connected to bedrooms but are shared by only two rooms. (There will never be more than 4 people sharing one bathroom. Usually there are only two). All rooms are comfortable with central heat, and air conditioning. Each room has 2-4 beds, one night stand, a lamp and clothing storage. These accommodations give participants the private space they need, in private single bedrooms or shared with desired roommate, as well as great opportunities for socializing with others.
Meals are served in a common dining room shared by all MSC guests. A hot meal option is provided along with cereal, fruit, and yogurt available at breakfast and a salad bar available at lunch and dinner. Some meals are also taken at area restaurants that feature a variety of local seafood specialties.
While our address says that MSC is located on Wallops Island, participants will find that our campus is not actually on an island. We share a historic postal code with the nearby NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Navy base because of our common history and partnership. We are just a 5-minute drive away from three of Virginia's beautiful barrier islands- Wallops, Chincoteague, and Assateague.

Facility amenities: The residence hall is located across campus from meeting spaces and cafeteria, with parking available nearby. A coin-operated laundry room is available. The campus has a large lounge for participants with comfortable chairs and sofas, tables to play games, and television. Wireless Internet access is available in the main Education Center.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Bathroom: There are two bathrooms per set of four rooms. Each bathroom has two sinks, two showers, and two toilets. Bathrooms are not connected to bedrooms. (There will never be more than 4 people sharing one bathroom. Usually there are only two).

Additional nights before: $35Please call the MSC to make a reservation.

Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the MSC cafeteria after our morning meeting at 7:30 AM. Each day our cafeteria staff will present an array of fruits, hot and cold cereals, meats, breads/biscuits, eggs or pancakes for your choosing.

Morning: Hear one of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge's educational staff talk about the refuge system and the unique qualities of the Chincoteague Refuge. Visit the refuge's impressive visitor's center.

Lunch: Find out if ecologists can grill as your leaders heat up some burgers at the beach!

Afternoon:
Take a bus tour of Chincoteague NWR's Service Road, a restricted access road that goes into the northern part of the refuge. The Service Road area is home to the majority of the wild ponies living on the island and views are spectacular. Spend the afternoon pony and bird watching.

Dinner: Dinner will be in the MSC cafeteria.

Evening: Enjoy an evening of traditional campfire fare. MSC staff will entertain with a variety of fun skits and audience participation camp songs. Top off the night with a delicious s'more snack.

Description: The Marine Science Consortium (MSC) is a residential environmental learning center and field station which provides hands-on educational programs on coastal and marine environments.
Road Scholar participants will be housed in one of the MSC’s residence halls. The residence hall is two stories tall and has no elevator. This facility is set up like a college-style dorm or camp retreat center where bedrooms are grouped into sets of four bedrooms, accessed through one exterior locking door. Inside participants will find four comfortable bedrooms and two bathrooms. Bedrooms have single twin beds, no bunk beds. There are two bathrooms per set of four rooms. Each bathroom has two sinks, two showers with changing areas, and two toilets. Bathrooms are not connected to bedrooms but are shared by only two rooms. (There will never be more than 4 people sharing one bathroom. Usually there are only two). All rooms are comfortable with central heat, and air conditioning. Each room has 2-4 beds, one night stand, a lamp and clothing storage. These accommodations give participants the private space they need, in private single bedrooms or shared with desired roommate, as well as great opportunities for socializing with others.
Meals are served in a common dining room shared by all MSC guests. A hot meal option is provided along with cereal, fruit, and yogurt available at breakfast and a salad bar available at lunch and dinner. Some meals are also taken at area restaurants that feature a variety of local seafood specialties.
While our address says that MSC is located on Wallops Island, participants will find that our campus is not actually on an island. We share a historic postal code with the nearby NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Navy base because of our common history and partnership. We are just a 5-minute drive away from three of Virginia's beautiful barrier islands- Wallops, Chincoteague, and Assateague.

Facility amenities: The residence hall is located across campus from meeting spaces and cafeteria, with parking available nearby. A coin-operated laundry room is available. The campus has a large lounge for participants with comfortable chairs and sofas, tables to play games, and television. Wireless Internet access is available in the main Education Center.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Bathroom: There are two bathrooms per set of four rooms. Each bathroom has two sinks, two showers, and two toilets. Bathrooms are not connected to bedrooms. (There will never be more than 4 people sharing one bathroom. Usually there are only two).

Additional nights before: $35Please call the MSC to make a reservation.

Check in time: 3:00 PM

Day Three: Tuesday, July 02 - Tom's Cove Intertidal Lecture and Field Trip/Salt...

Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the MSC cafeteria after our morning meeting at 7:30. Each day our cafeteria staff will present an array of fruits, hot and cold cereals, meats, breads/biscuits, eggs or pancakes for your choosing.

Morning: Learn about the tides, the changes that occur in the Intertidal Zone, and the effect that it has on the critters who live in these environments. Travel out to Assateague Island for a fieldtrip to collect creatures using seine nets and sieve boxes.

Lunch: Lunch is 12:00 - 1:00 pm in the MSC cafeteria

Afternoon: Learn how wetlands function and why they are so important to the environment as a whole through an in-lab discussion led by a MSC ecologist. Travel out to the salt marsh to experience and learn about the environments first hand. Experience the productivity of the saltmarsh by taking a dip in the mud.

Dinner: Dinner is from 5:15 to 6:15 pm in the MSC cafeteria.

Evening: A lecture on the equipment and techniques current scientists use in order to test water quality, tidal current properties and water sampling. Learn how to collect organisms using an otter trawl. We will put this talk to use on our monitor (flat-bottomed) boat research cruise.

Description: The Marine Science Consortium (MSC) is a residential environmental learning center and field station which provides hands-on educational programs on coastal and marine environments.
Road Scholar participants will be housed in one of the MSC’s residence halls. The residence hall is two stories tall and has no elevator. This facility is set up like a college-style dorm or camp retreat center where bedrooms are grouped into sets of four bedrooms, accessed through one exterior locking door. Inside participants will find four comfortable bedrooms and two bathrooms. Bedrooms have single twin beds, no bunk beds. There are two bathrooms per set of four rooms. Each bathroom has two sinks, two showers with changing areas, and two toilets. Bathrooms are not connected to bedrooms but are shared by only two rooms. (There will never be more than 4 people sharing one bathroom. Usually there are only two). All rooms are comfortable with central heat, and air conditioning. Each room has 2-4 beds, one night stand, a lamp and clothing storage. These accommodations give participants the private space they need, in private single bedrooms or shared with desired roommate, as well as great opportunities for socializing with others.
Meals are served in a common dining room shared by all MSC guests. A hot meal option is provided along with cereal, fruit, and yogurt available at breakfast and a salad bar available at lunch and dinner. Some meals are also taken at area restaurants that feature a variety of local seafood specialties.
While our address says that MSC is located on Wallops Island, participants will find that our campus is not actually on an island. We share a historic postal code with the nearby NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Navy base because of our common history and partnership. We are just a 5-minute drive away from three of Virginia's beautiful barrier islands- Wallops, Chincoteague, and Assateague.

Facility amenities: The residence hall is located across campus from meeting spaces and cafeteria, with parking available nearby. A coin-operated laundry room is available. The campus has a large lounge for participants with comfortable chairs and sofas, tables to play games, and television. Wireless Internet access is available in the main Education Center.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Bathroom: There are two bathrooms per set of four rooms. Each bathroom has two sinks, two showers, and two toilets. Bathrooms are not connected to bedrooms. (There will never be more than 4 people sharing one bathroom. Usually there are only two).

Additional nights before: $35Please call the MSC to make a reservation.

Check in time: 3:00 PM

Day Four: Wednesday, July 03 - Research Vessel Trip/Free Afternoon/'Misty of Chi...

Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the MSC cafeteria after our morning meeting at 7:30. Each day our cafeteria staff will present an array of fruits, hot and cold cereals, meats, breads/biscuits, eggs or pancakes for your choosing.

Morning: Venture out into the tidal creeks on a monitor vessel to collect data and creatures. Put your new knowledge to use doing water sampling, water quality tests, tidal current property measurements and collect organisms using an otter trawl.

Lunch: Lunch is 12:00 - 1:00 pm in the MSC cafeteria

Afternoon: This is a free afternoon to visit some of the local sites, explore the quaint town of Chincoteague, walk the trails of the Wildlife Refuge, or just sit on the beach reading a novel.

Dinner: Dinner is 5:15 - 6:15 pm in the MSC cafeteria

Evening:
Enjoy the classic film "Misty of Chincoteague" as you relax for the evening.

Description: The Marine Science Consortium (MSC) is a residential environmental learning center and field station which provides hands-on educational programs on coastal and marine environments.
Road Scholar participants will be housed in one of the MSC’s residence halls. The residence hall is two stories tall and has no elevator. This facility is set up like a college-style dorm or camp retreat center where bedrooms are grouped into sets of four bedrooms, accessed through one exterior locking door. Inside participants will find four comfortable bedrooms and two bathrooms. Bedrooms have single twin beds, no bunk beds. There are two bathrooms per set of four rooms. Each bathroom has two sinks, two showers with changing areas, and two toilets. Bathrooms are not connected to bedrooms but are shared by only two rooms. (There will never be more than 4 people sharing one bathroom. Usually there are only two). All rooms are comfortable with central heat, and air conditioning. Each room has 2-4 beds, one night stand, a lamp and clothing storage. These accommodations give participants the private space they need, in private single bedrooms or shared with desired roommate, as well as great opportunities for socializing with others.
Meals are served in a common dining room shared by all MSC guests. A hot meal option is provided along with cereal, fruit, and yogurt available at breakfast and a salad bar available at lunch and dinner. Some meals are also taken at area restaurants that feature a variety of local seafood specialties.
While our address says that MSC is located on Wallops Island, participants will find that our campus is not actually on an island. We share a historic postal code with the nearby NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Navy base because of our common history and partnership. We are just a 5-minute drive away from three of Virginia's beautiful barrier islands- Wallops, Chincoteague, and Assateague.

Facility amenities: The residence hall is located across campus from meeting spaces and cafeteria, with parking available nearby. A coin-operated laundry room is available. The campus has a large lounge for participants with comfortable chairs and sofas, tables to play games, and television. Wireless Internet access is available in the main Education Center.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Bathroom: There are two bathrooms per set of four rooms. Each bathroom has two sinks, two showers, and two toilets. Bathrooms are not connected to bedrooms. (There will never be more than 4 people sharing one bathroom. Usually there are only two).

Additional nights before: $35Please call the MSC to make a reservation.

Wallops Island Dune Ecology Lecture and Field Trip/Organism Lab and Activities/Talent Show and Skit Night

Breakfast: Breakfast is 7:30 - 8:30 am in the MSC cafeteria

Morning:
An in-lab discussion, led by a MSC ecologist, talking about barrier island formation and the unique pattern of life found these islands. A field trip to the sand dunes of Wallops Island NASA base will allow you to see a pristine environment. This island is closed to the public, so this opportunity, exclusive to MSC, is a chance to see a natural beach ecosystem. While in the field learn about dune succession and collect shells.

Lunch: Lunch is 12:00 - 1:00 pm in the MSC cafeteria

Afternoon: Get a closer look at the organism collected all week long during our organism lab. Help identify the organisms and learn more about their interesting characteristics.

Dinner: Get ready for a last night feast! Sample local crabs and clams or if you choose, a juicy steak.

Evening: Talent show and skit night! Bring along your guitar or favorite song to teach the group. Campers will perform lively skits taught to them by camp staff.

Breakfast: Breakfast will be in the MSC cafeteria after our morning meeting at 7:30. Each day our cafeteria staff will present an array of fruits, hot and cold cereals, meats, breads/biscuits, eggs or pancakes for your choosing.

Morning:
It's time to check out and remember all the fun of the week! Hear from fellow participants and share what you've learned and your favorite activity. Create a craft project to remember your week at MSC.

Important information about your itinerary: Please know that while we do everything we can to finalize all aspects of our programs well in advance, there are logistics that occasionally must be altered. Our website will reflect the most recent information, and we are committed to providing you with final program details no later than eight weeks prior to the start of programs outside the U.S. and three weeks prior to the start of programs within the U.S. If you ever have questions about your program, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Need Help?

The latest in light, portable, easy-to-use QUIETVOX listening devices are available on Road Scholar programs.* Whether you are outdoors, in a crowd or in a museum environment where speaking loudly is discouraged, a listening device makes it feel like our experts are speaking clearly and directly to you. Hear for yourself on a Road Scholar adventure!

*Please note that due to the nature of some programs, the remote location or government regulations, listening devices may not be available. If you’d like to know for sure if your program will offer listening devices, just call and ask an Advisor!